This week, we're thrilled to share an awesome chat with Noah Schutte, not just an entrepreneur, but also a software engineer, and technical recruiter. Noah takes us through his vibrant career journey, sharing a wealth of insights into product management, software engineering, and recruitment. He warmly recounts his first steps into entrepreneurship, his exciting transition into software engineering through a bootcamp, and his valuable contributions to Denver's buzzing tech scene. Fun fact - he developed a point of sale system for cannabis dispensaries and worked with a non-custodial cryptocurrency exchange. Noah then dives into how his entrepreneurial spirit sparked the creation of 'Higher Love', a staffing and recruiting firm. He passionately talks about the importance of mentorship, personalized recruiting, and the power of a strong personal brand. He also shares an interview preparation framework he authored, aimed at boosting self-marketing skills and perfectly aligning with what potential employers are looking for. We wrap up the episode with Noah's unique recruitment philosophy all about creating value-driven matches between companies and candidates, underscoring his commitment to nurturing authentic, meaningful career connections. Enjoy!

Timestamps:

00:00 Kicking Off with Product Coffee Podcast

00:26 Introducing Noah: A Journey from Entrepreneur to Tech Guru

04:47 Noah's Entrepreneurial Ventures and Staffing Success

09:59 Balancing Entrepreneurship and Parenthood

12:23 The Transition from Musician to Full-Time Work and Parenthood

15:10 Insights into Software Bootcamp and App Development

19:11 Mastering the Job Market: Interview Prep and LinkedIn Tips

23:34 Mastering the Interview: A Deep Dive

23:48 The Art of Asking Questions During Interviews

24:13 Building Rapport with Hiring Managers

30:50 Crafting Your Personal Brand and Philosophy

36:36 The Importance of Critical Questions

37:50 Concluding Your Interview with Confidence

38:55 Maximizing Interview Success: Strategies and Insights

39:21 Leveraging Interview Preparation for Career Advancement

43:28 Practical Tips for Immediate Application

45:47 Exploring the Value of Personal Branding in Job Searches

47:49 Final Thoughts and Resources

Where to find Noah Schutte:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahschutte/

Where to find Kevin Gentry:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevingentry/

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On this week’s episode of Product Coffee, Kevin and Lou talk about the future impact of generative AI on product management. They delve into how emerging technologies, particularly generative AI, are simplifying coding and potentially strategy formulation, altering the landscape for product managers. The conversation covers the ability of AI to generate code and roadmap strategies, the risks and opportunities this presents, and the fundamental unchanged aspects of product management such as understanding market needs and customer problems. The speakers also share personal anecdotes to illustrate the evolution of technology and its application in real-world scenarios, including real estate development. They conclude by addressing listener feedback and emphasizing the value of curiosity and execution in the product management field.

00:00 Welcome to Product Coffee: Unveiling the Future of Product Management

00:26 Exploring the Impact of Generative AI on Product Management

01:54 The Evolution of Building: From Legos to Software

03:32 Navigating the Digital Transformation and Market Competition

05:19 The Unchanged Core of Product Management in a Tech-Driven World

08:28 Harnessing Data and Technology for Real Estate Development

13:09 Balancing Personal Projects and Market Opportunities

07:09 Reflecting on the Journey of Product Management

15:18 Engaging with the Community: Feedback and Questions

18:45 Closing Thoughts: Adapting Product Skills Across Industries

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In this episode of the Product Coffee podcast, Lou & Kevin discuss the importance of identifying market opportunities in product management. They emphasize the role of product managers in understanding how their products fit within the market and exploring unique opportunities. The conversation covers the necessity of market analysis, exploring alternatives, and understanding customer pain points. Through examples, including insurance and service industry gaps, the hosts illustrate how engaging with potential customers and comprehensively understanding their needs can reveal valuable market opportunities. They stress the significance of a maker's attitude towards innovation, the need for action over ideation, and the importance of moving from recognizing a market gap to taking tangible steps to address it. The episode encourages listeners to adopt a mindset of abundance and creativity, engage in customer research, and share their ideas to validate and refine them.

00:28 Diving Deep into Market Opportunities and Innovation

02:09 The Entrepreneurial Journey: From Idea to Action

10:33 Embracing the Maker Spirit: The Path to Disruption

23:55 Final Thoughts: Taking the Leap into Market Innovation

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Looking to hire strong product leaders at your company? - Schedule a time here to see what we can do for you!

In this week’s episode of Product Coffee, Kevin interviews Pieter van Noordennen, a product management leader with a deep focus on AI and machine learning. Pieter shares his journey from journalism to product management, emphasizing his transition into AI-focused roles and solopreneurship. He discusses the differences between generative AI and machine learning, the impact of AI on product management and engineering, and the importance of adaptability and strategic thinking in utilizing AI technologies. Pieter also touches on personal aspects, including the influence of parenthood on his career decisions, and introduces 'product.codes', a community for tech-inclined product managers. The episode provides insights into the evolving landscape of AI in product development and management, encouraging listeners to explore AI beyond popular tools like ChatGPT.

Pieter on LinkedIn

Product.codes

01:00 Guest Background and Journey into Product Management

02:47 Personal Life and Interests

03:33 Exploring the Concepts of Generative AI and Machine Learning

06:32 The Impact of AI on Product Development and Innovation

07:45 The Future of AI Technology and its Exciting Possibilities

09:35 The Role of Creativity in the Age of AI

13:32 The Intersection of AI and Design

21:25 The Influence of AI on Content Creation and SEO

22:39 The Impact of AI on Content Creation

23:18 The Future of Quality Content in the Age of AI

23:51 The Balance Between Quality and Quantity in Content

24:28 The Shift Towards Subscription-Based Content

24:51 The Rise of Solopreneurship and Its Impact on the Economy

26:13 The Personal Journey of Becoming a Solopreneur

29:27 The Challenges and Rewards of Balancing Work and Family Life

35:49 The Importance of Community and Mentorship in Career Development

42:26 The Role of AI in Product Management

44:50 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

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Looking to hire strong product leaders at your company? - Schedule a time here to see what we can do for you!

Karthik Suresh, founder of Ignition shares his unique journey in the world of technology and product strategy, from his early days on Wall Street to transitioning to the tech world during a recession. He reflects on his experiences at Craft and Facebook, highlighting the different nuances of operating as a Product Manager in startups versus large organisations, and the pivotal role of PMs in leadership. Karthik also discusses the evolution of his AI-powered product management platform, Ignition, and how it is changing the landscape of PM and PMM work along with the stumbling blocks he's encountered along the way.

Special Coupon Code for Product Coffee listeners:

Ignition: Use the code, COFFEE25 to get 25% off any subscription for the first 12 months.

00:51 Karthik's Journey into the Tech World

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Looking to hire strong product leaders at your company? - Schedule a time here to see what we can do for you!

On this episode of Product Coffee, Kevin sits down with recruitment expert, James Jordan gives insights on the product management recruitment scene. He discusses his company, Producto, and his approach to finding the right candidates. He provides helpful advice for product management professionals both looking for jobs and for those wanting to stay competitive in their current positions. Strengthening LinkedIn profiles, staying connected with the community of peers and regular self-assessment are among the key recommendations. James also touches upon trends in the industry such as transitions between roles, shifts in the job market and the importance of networking.

02:40 James Jordan's Journey in Tech Recruitment

05:05 Challenges in Product Management Recruitment

07:04 Understanding Company Needs and Candidate Profiles

10:23 The Importance of Personality and Culture Fit in Recruitment

21:00 Navigating the Current Turbulence in the Tech Industry

26:04 The Current Job Market Vibe

26:33 The Impact on Senior PMs

26:50 The Consequences of Job Market Dynamics

27:10 Breaking Down PM Categories

27:33 The Challenges PMs Face in the Market

28:10 The Importance of Specialization

30:09 The Dilemma of PM Leaders

32:05 The Difference Between Startup and Enterprise PM Work

34:39 The Importance of LinkedIn and Resume Optimization

36:31 The Power of Networking and Relationship Building

41:14 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations

James on LinkedIn / Producto

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Looking to hire strong product leaders at your company? - Schedule a time here to see what we can do for you!

Imparting valuable advice for career growth, Michelle Bassett talks about product management over a cup of coffee. The discussion turns to the sunk-cost fallacy, the importance of pivoting when necessary, and how making informed decisions can lead to career advancement. She shares her hands-on experience in marketing and entrepreneurship, while emphasizing the importance of understanding how numbers influence business outcomes. The conversation further delves into the impact of neurodivergence on professional journeys, the transformation of workplaces, and the emerging gig economy. Michelle encourages listeners to understand their business morals and consider the impact of their work on broader societal patterns.

Check out Michelle here 🦄

00:26 Understanding the Sunk Cost Fallacy

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Looking to hire strong product leaders at your company? - Schedule a time here to see what we can do for you!

Product Coffee introduces Caitlin Titus and Travis Hampton, who are both senior product managers with different experiences ranging from Ad Tech to B2B healthcare space. This episode delves into their career backgrounds, current experiences in the product management field, particularly with significant layoffs and job dissatisfaction. According to a CNBC study, senior product managers, albeit high-paying roles, are among those most likely to quit their jobs due to stress, turnover changes, and company performance issues. They discuss their different experiences with job interviews and case study prompts, underlining the importance of asking clear, open-ended questions and adopting an iterative testing process for job satisfaction. The hosts suggest different ways product managers can align high-paying jobs with their personal and professional goals and mitigate job dissatisfaction.

Don't have the budget to hire Product people yet? Check out Abstraction for a subscription-style agency to help you build beautiful product experiences for your customers.

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In this episode of Product Coffee, Kevin welcomes Adam Oliver, Founder, and CEO of Crafted, a product development consultancy. Adam shares his product management journey, the challenges of transitioning into a leadership role as a founder, and offers insights on product development, advocating for a lean, iterative approach. He also discusses the importance of balanced teams, stressing the need for product design engagement. As a leader in times of economic uncertainty, Adam recommends a careful approach to spending and decision-making. He envisions AI and ML having an impactful role in product development in the future.

Adam's company: Crafted

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:53 Adam's Journey into Product Management

02:25 Adam's Experience with Pivotal Labs

03:35 Adam's Transition from Real Estate to Tech

04:59 Discussion on Extreme Programming

07:13 Adam's Experience with Pivotal Labs' IPO

09:56 Challenges and Benefits of Consultancy Work

13:44 Importance of Regular Product Hygiene

17:37 Staying Scrappy in Product Development

23:34 Balanced Teams for Project Success

24:31 The Importance of UI/UX in Software Development

25:04 The Evolution of Software and the Role of Engineers

25:47 The Impact of UI/UX on Engineering Efficiency

27:33 The Role of UI/UX in API Development

28:38 The Slow Recognition of UI/UX Importance in the Industry

29:11 The Concept of Iteratively Shipping Products

31:55 The Role of Product Marketing in Bridging the Gap

33:45 The Shift to Profitability and EBITDA Focus

38:28 The Challenges of Transitioning to a Founder Role

45:59 The Future of Product Development

This week on Product Coffee, Kevin & Jake dive into the challenges emerging startups face in balancing product development and innovation. They explore patterns of organizational behavior that can inhibit innovation and stress the importance of continuous customer discovery. The conversation further delves into themes like ideal stages for engaging go-to-market teams, understanding market fit in relation to product stage and the role of product leadership in managing business expectations. The hosts conclude by inviting listener feedback on effective processes and strategies adopted in their organizations.

00:00 Introduction and Role as Interim Head of Product

00:11 Challenges Faced by Emerging Startups

00:40 Discussion on Airbnb and Product Management

01:19 Innovation and Decision Making in Startups

02:04 The Struggle of Companies with Innovation

02:24 The Importance of Portfolio Product Management

04:16 The Role of Market in Product Development

05:22 Understanding the Product Lifecycle

05:57 The Role of Market Understanding in Product Maturity

07:06 The Challenge of Finding the Right Problem to Solve

08:07 The Impact of Over-investment in Go-to-Market Channels

09:14 The Trap of Enterprise Organizations

12:04 The Importance of Continuous Innovation

13:26 The Role of Market Conditions in Product Success

17:46 The Challenge of Competing with Oneself

19:33 Understanding the Changing Needs of Customers

21:57 Perfecting Customer Understanding vs Perfecting the Solution

22:13 Struggles of Balancing Different Phases in Companies

22:27 The Importance of Continuous Discovery Habits

22:40 The Impact of New Processes and Techniques on Understanding Core Fundamentals

23:19 The Role of Process in Differentiating Competing Organizations

23:52 The Importance of Customer Discovery

24:03 The Impact of LLMs on the Content Industry

24:38 The Importance of Understanding the Problem Over Time

25:01 The Role of Customer Interviews and Market Understanding

26:15 The Importance of Broader Market Analysis

26:44 The Role of Culture of Experimentation

27:40 The Importance of Challenging Your Own Ideas and Assumptions

28:11 The Struggles of Day-to-Day Product Team

28:51 The Role of Leadership in Innovation

31:35 The Challenge of Demonstrating Value in Product Discovery

32:11 The Importance of Managing Business Expectations and Priorities

33:42 The Role of Risk in Product Discovery

35:45 The Challenge of Predictability in Product Management

38:14 The Importance of Engaging with Go-to-Market Teams

42:06 The Challenge of Perfecting Your Understanding of Your Customer

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